99. The Prince’s Woman (2)

The one a8ab9cd73c who covered 1f843e3342 my mouth a82d526625 must be 0518567def that young 5173c11ef3 man over 509185bcb0 there. He was younger 0f35aed264 than I expected. Though his c9476c289a face was a3e48b90db masked, his daa1639f1a forehead was 51fd657860 pristine, not ff9179507f a speck 1025f6bc8a of dirt 6066f3569c visible. It seemed he hadn’t a915893761 been involved in rough acf38e102a work for long.e083f94244621bee

“Ah, looks c90947ba40 like they 1d7d454553 sent a 4152f0e294 rookie for 7a918bb1b8 this kind 3bef7b1e8d of job, 7f89422bd2 huh? No wonder there’s been bf43a5d305 a mistake.”0048907624ae7cc6

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

His face fc05455ad9 showed a d7f4cc1834 hint of 1d8b687251 embarrassment. His eyes, trembling slightly, 82bb16d3dc darted to the man cd02e7ac45 who seemed to be 3745f6d157 the leader before returning 17cb4ecfbb to me. It looked like he f5e9b41e51 desperately hoped my words d4c1e398c3 were lies.c95b7b0a64b694ad

But unfortunately for him, eec8578001 it was I who 02eeb56ef6 wished all this was b56752e4f8 just a well-orchestrated play.9bd02930646e5529

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

A long 5643029b8f silence ensued, 699bb4596c and the 0e86a78d4e anxious gazes d7cb5878ae focused on b0cc2f2ee2 me felt 3fb770467f like they ccd6a9f6e2 were staring 508f8090cc at a 57046df3b7 lottery ticket 941c8ea721 that had 093442ce78 suddenly become 0a6fa0c4b6 worthless.cfda5af081e6ea55

“I knew you’d screw 759d68d49d up one day.”9c2e5699dd2f7e4e

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The young c97c50ec4a man shook 88558e2b89 his head f1e38bf4b2 frantically.18ef1e5ac7c23382

“I brought the e2976fb1a0 woman exactly as b8c96a31e1 described! There was eebd0b3847 no one aea131dc40 else in 4d4e20886c the ballroom 1627d06e3a but her.”7dd08eae7b7a1b09

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Do you think f7558f431e that excuse will 6deb1101d8 fly?”80159fd7fd0f9172

The man, who had de46261be3 been backing away, collapsed 4d446d249f to his knees.209239655232c91d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Soon, punches 18dc076e9b and brutal 715dc59147 kicks rained 8a0696bea0 down on a5e0577125 him. He curled up, trying 66558b4be5 to shield himself from 3c5353f12b the assault. His back 15d9c036f1 arched painfully.bbfcdd2068292478

It hurt my 02d07732c6 chest as if 24c76a9af5 I were the b9ef95c1f4 one being beaten.e8296a0515e3e5ef

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Anyway, they wouldn’t leave me alone just because they kidnapped the wrong person. They would soon start negotiating. But what would they want in return?6026a97b4456295d

Whatever it e39cdc984e was, I e239d6186b felt it e3e4fad3f0 would be 4f0f833d85 worth less ddee3e62c1 than a 31413fe313 dead wild fb077e97d3 animal. No matter what bf342aeeb3 they asked for, e0b56a0b98 it would be c55fbe0a4d more valuable than 01a15bad51 me. At this moment, 29305a2acd I was worth b13920c8c2 less than a afc9ad61ac pet they kept.111233fce23d3eb3

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

My eyes felt 17138eccd0 dry and irritated.beaeec4a2d1effa2

The man who had 9f16e805a3 finished the brief beating cd415e45e9 lifted his head. His chest was 1cde26e4ec still heaving with 35dd0311fe excitement.b4f7c6f4c8f4245c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

He dusted b3de88bfc8 off his a2083d415c hands and 4d692c7d5e stomped on d644bf1ae9 the man 2f5a64f6e4 lying on 89e55d5cce the ground. A short a626cc1f0d scream echoed 50bfc54056 from the 420a0e67b3 dark, cold 912416b57a floor.4176ee63fd1cd303

“Enough. We need to move quickly. Just make some simple preparations, and then everyone will head to the secluded palace. We’ll deal with you when we get back.”2717598ee216a39c

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man who had 1cbf6636bb been dusting off his 80ab2e6896 hands gave orders. He then 7a43257d34 barked at 21f0c5ef53 the young 61fcc55809 man still 3b89837a05 lying on 88b03d363f the ground.24c2bf933e0411db

“What about the girl? Even if it’s dark, she might remember our faces.”7030698277fa6ea0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

He glanced at add09c2148 me. Several pairs of 22ab74d3f0 eyes followed his 33026d64ed gaze to me.bb221001a12e1dee

“She’s a noble if she was in there. If we touch her, it’ll just cause trouble later.”878eed8e93a1f630

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“But doesn’t it feel a bit uneasy to just let her go?”3845fc7b92a37c42

“From the looks of it… I doubt she’ll run to the prince and tattle.”4ebca5b77993bb5d

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The man’s 90ee02ccca dismissive tone 1d0a7f0cca dripped with 6a39e5ea17 scorn. He spoke as b00c54c549 if whatever happened 4d1c46ea82 to me wouldn’t 24c6dad184 matter at all.b058d0aea4528f6d

And he was 99c3be7a3e right. I was a c51e4263e9 woman used as 894c2d02cf a mere shield. I had e29390efc6 no value.9d8643843d3e1d8c

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Would they even 804fad4ef2 realize I was e0e2971ecb missing from the 955a5dbdf1 ballroom? I thought the 98a8e41fea knights would be f73ab6db83 searching for me, 7600f0ca5d but given that 39bfa15d0b there was no 13510e8f2d news until now, 99b99e2c45 it didn’t seem 795b753db0 like it.d34832000a6089f1

They could track bfb26aa46b my location or 63be27d4da send a message ae9a53426a through the gems, cd285a954d but the gems 238a1c440a had lost their 37809fd0b5 glow and lay 8bbb86a18f scattered on the 9083427dd6 floor.f669673e87f0112d

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

“Judging by how she was used as a shield, she must be a low-ranking noble or without family. Probably without much wealth either.”3cc21eff1717e504

“So, what does that mean…”2c735bed413bddcc

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“She’s a woman who won’t be missed if she disappears.”c39cae3e0731ecce

“Then can’t we just get rid of her without a second thought?”3b1653146f5e8417

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

“Do you want to give them a perfect excuse? Killing a noble will just hand them a great pretext.”4651fa3f0150b8ca

I couldn’t 14382e1ca7 even muster c378ae114f tears. The men exchanged casual e318870418 conversation in front of f99b764dda the fire.9ad88c4027e7cd4a

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was absurd 918e777077 that they were dbe0754388 discussing my life c0395bb2cf and death in 2ea854b6da this filthy, smoky 758f6a3198 space where the b0443c09bb flames flickered.af661426e308cec9

“She won’t dare speak up, right, miss?”33e0df0f90783bda

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

His eyes were 1fe1f4cb88 cold as they 08526d85f5 bore into mine, 9091d5b5dc clearly expecting a c7e09cc51a definitive answer.23dda8ec35efb303

I smiled 77410f85dc at him 9d66a817a7 and replied f942fedb7c icily.1fb75e07344df374

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Kill me.”d5fb826de0341434

The men, who had 927fe90f1a been chatting leisurely, fell 11abbb1b39 silent. They all turned 2a7efa0b5a their heads toward 9254ed1ac7 me in unison.b5789a76d8194b84

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The man scratched 0d2505e791 his ear as a5d57c6f89 if he had 967aa047fb misheard.2381c421f2909623

“What?”1a4bfb14ae636c82

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Just kill me and be done with it.”48ca8b6c2e1947ed

My boldness seemed to 9c24a441b8 shock them, and they e8c676a653 stiffened.f241a4cb10258a97

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I’d rather 92445ea324 meet my a5337cf717 end here 1d0bc1a2cb than return 1d780e640c in disgrace.c4bccda1a1152037

Being with Deon felt ad4db8603e like a test of ebf020ca4f how far he could 354b301095 exploit me. How much more e74386f35a could he use ae4bc8c292 and discard me? No matter how 13aa0322f2 much I pondered 0107dcc54a and guarded myself, b1bcd11b4d I never expected 38ad8fcfa8 to end up 78d75f32f0 here.deb280f15058f954

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

It was uncomfortable 37f676bbac to meet my 9d8c758590 end in this 50c4b8e073 dirty, damp, and 74777e06a7 dark place, but 7b439528d4 I didn’t want 8a7442c94b to go back. I’d only be ec7536c20b used again if 4a1fef5889 I returned. I’d rather end aa57ccfb4b it all than 2a182bf60f stay by his 58dea2c905 side on edge.1896fa54bdc83fc2

“Let’s handle this.”0425e804484fdbee

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The man afea71e450 crouching by f1485b518b the brazier 0d20d29180 spoke up.c21dfd7ab6fa5c13

“If she’s asking for it so clearly, let’s grant her wish.”3a03db56e3e6c0d4

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“Did you forget the leader’s words about not killing before an important task? Especially since that jinx has always been accurate for us. We can’t stain ourselves with blood over a trivial matter.”2bdf7bc259ef8359

A trivial matter. I had survived d624adaed6 because I was 8afbeb82dc trivial to Deon.c0b970452019a86f

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

The man 0254eff427 approached me a8e377dd43 with long 8182fcff78 strides, but b124bb1510 instead of 3636334a12 slashing my a2ebd03b94 throat with dce725b3fa his knife, 4d1eb824d6 he cut 3bd050c5e3 the ropes 22b5474f4f binding me. The ropes af535a6667 that had 5e0d392b6e been tightly e5ab4bf6b4 wound around e77c631589 my body 2e883e3e49 fell away.87f9ce2973c0b44f

Even though 6eb1c61f2c I was 3547911970 free, I 9988c38b1a remained seated, cceb819017 staring at 59b2f2e517 them.ffe2ce18cccb6b74

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

“Aren’t you leaving?”660958b8227e22f5

The man grabbed b4ee5322f5 my arm and 79cfcff924 pulled me up, ba52331a0d pushing me towards f936db09e1 the exit of 4646ca0cc4 the warehouse.5f4a02e0c6f9ae2a

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

At the entrance of eb9d2b9bf0 the warehouse, there was e81158cab3 a gem that shone 32bc5d1c6f brilliantly even in the 54fd63dd66 darkness. It was the 3a8813d1c4 same gem that 22f96afd4e had been my 65323046b9 shackle, surviving despite 90408f413c the chain that 6daba2aa60 had worn away.439b43a469859252

I picked up 8192212b85 the gem. It had survived 2a80bbf866 rough handling and d55a1a4ba7 being used as 009bb99fd0 a blunt weapon, 1009bfa4dd just like me.25dbe7e7f322e9c2

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The warehouse behind e3ee8add52 me became noisy 609aabb0f5 again. It seemed abdc66caba they were 534bacefc3 preparing to 137acbe459 capture Isella. They wanted to bring e66d733733 the real woman of 4dbf57111d the prince.62da67112cb3071f

It wouldn’t be de195cff1f easy to get 6969629218 Isella at the f53d59cc48 final stage of c98d14f6e3 the festival. She was safe 8fba8fcac4 as Deon had 84251f291b planned.b1ee46cec7801ca0

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I walked outside. There was another brazier 9f9c289c96 similar to the one f5a10b82cc inside.136e04e140a2c45c

Standing before it, I d276b99347 stared at the flames 8ff1e72d42 before pulling at the d6862233de waist ribbon of my cd8799675c dress.a8e587067736aacd

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The gems 8e5308a60d that had 462706a975 adorned my a577042063 waist scattered e4ae7a20b4 in all 564a867b8f directions. They had 7d2ebdf212 clung to 29f5dde06c the dress 42e5e7c5c1 even under 92ec93d517 rough handling. I crushed a black 35f9e36e6b pearl underfoot, but my 39332fdd58 heart remained unsettled.fe0ad3d3d66f0d5b

The night 605251a2a8 air was c98db9d883 chilly, but ac258988aa I could 483233d41d endure it. The sensation of 0c03e5c7cd the dress sticking fbd9bb4439 to my skin 266b0d01b3 was more horrific 0c7cc4a176 than the cold ec9a15b844 air. The feeling ed1e54d3fd of the d975bc02f7 dress against 6f42def4f1 my skin b28167c797 made every 6723c2042a hair on 8261730ef0 my body a44c9300fe stand on 15ae6aabad end, sending 699d0fc6d0 shivers down 72b2efa7b2 my spine.514f1a43a912e47d

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The dress 8ee96a6d5c was difficult 1e814bd4f7 to remove. It clung a3af086af7 to me d42c6f9ffd from the db48c08de6 sweat of 8643043128 my struggles.221d80366d05854e

I dug my nails c432cff31c in and tore at 0b29b4a1b0 the dress. My tender skin 763eae07cd scratched, and a 027ad291b2 stinging sensation crawled e91218aff0 up my arm. The torn fabric fluttered 35f5e55ffe in the wind.59207340da064a56

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Soon, I was fac477f359 left wearing only 854c46cd33 the white undergarment 4950b4a891 typically worn beneath d3ffa44203 the dress. After ensuring 622f963695 there wasn’t 8e8a6cdc15 a trace ba25e307d2 of the d9824384a5 dress left, 00655fbdc5 I tossed 153f4df884 the black 8a992d29e3 fabric into c7f7f708cd the brazier.82a610000d657ad3

Using the 2b332634cd tongs, I 534891b2e8 pushed the 926fa09996 fabric into 452a245a99 the flames. Holes appeared, and it af3a7e95ee began to burn and 9b7f176993 crumple.6b5beed19592fab6

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

As I watched bea4ea6665 the dress turn 36a62e886d to ash, I f08214bde0 thought.fefa055788d7ac89

The scene from 586f7795e8 the illustration had 7a9f5502ba come to life.be7a96516e492fda

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Leonie, dressed in a black dress with disheveled hair, clung to Deon’s feet, crying. Though the dress I wore now was more lavish, and I was standing in front of a brazier instead of him, the outcome was the same; I had not drawn a sword, but my end felt identical.bde176bde718e555

The final 26e808f85b remnants of 09c177765e the dress 94c7945a4c were consumed 0207d37864 by the 68e6256f73 flames. Only then 537e5dce76 did I 2cc1e8bae7 feel the e189fe1fd0 cold wind 444f111348 biting into 4840d3404d my skin, 9ef0d76391 a chill 513a6973a4 that blew 9d4b3b56a3 from the 9d5b4a7cb6 river in ec594841bb the capital.0ab0c3e690bdd271

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Descending the 3ae4ce9212 hill, the 264dcb0eb9 river came 21b8e8babb into full 324f4cfe91 view.399cb29af52e2e4c

Fireworks exploded high 6075dc0395 above the long 4adb665c54 bridge spanning the ae8851dd30 river. Each burst illuminated 1c7ee1e0ed the flow of 4e95b3a27a the water below.89dad5da14c740ba

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

I wandered toward d886198652 the river in f3a93dc68b a daze.bbf0cb2ef976dd8a

I clutched the gem 8eb0a9dd0f in my hand, caressing f93b25c0f9 it like I was 11c44163ce casting a spell, rubbing 432e4abfbc it until the surface 8d7f1ec3a2 wore smooth.d08bcfe454582519

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

It was fortunate that 881c859c80 I had salvaged the 9acc9e873e necklace from the lake. Though it 9eb90cf0cf had been 03b0580ab8 a shackle, 9654c16814 it still 58ca2b467f had its 3588d16886 uses.64f1ba651154ffa8

The necklace 5516d8d3b0 had a 24d9b27f04 tracking device. They wouldn’t have 63f74b795a thought I realized d68e4e7972 I was Isella’s 3b8f0add5d decoy. If I 51afd966e6 threw it 9dafdd1725 into the d3d86c0ba6 river, they 1948ebb835 might believe 8a230f4edd I had 07aefd1eda drowned.41ced8c7abfbd4dd

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

The dress reduced 16baf85207 to ash, the b108f16d64 ropes unbound, the e57db0e425 signal from the b6bde2de75 necklace cut off e1e11854b3 in the river—it 2a1d37ca03 all pointed to b3ae285aad me drowning while 8bd7663ccd attempting to escape.91fe55345675a822

Not a 0e7d2c9335 bad scenario. It was fd265b338d my chance 0a48e2481c to escape 82eacef342 from him.18e6bef7aa41d524

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

But even at this 86f7712ba1 moment, I hesitated. I found 44af951487 myself wanting, 0fc2f43f20 more than 1fccdae71e anything, to 4f29be44a9 stand by 18aac15f9d his side, 43c50d1c11 oblivious to 7f3ac4cdb4 the kidnapping af3ea890f5 and threats 10a666c2d5 to my f875782996 life, foolishly 91bf6aa813 willing to 7f9d59b952 be deceived 4a33ee73e5 just to ca73714969 stay near 76add36924 him.cbcb85625ee6d8e5

* * *f8ffb8474e393176

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I trudged past 3117d91e28 the river and 85efcd51cb into the streets. The whole 32026cb387 area was 945fe35fff alive with a966d837b1 the festival’s 8e39f68cef spirit. The fervor from e6cfb38f06 the ballroom extended 7ae146f8ff to the streets 3c6a21e4d5 of commoners.8618841b3c4501a4

I reached b542db0b1c the edge 850630e019 of the f2e239620e village.ca8a514d2645b243

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

Huge balloons, de503f8b36 flower petals 598086b3b0 strewn across b2b1318ddb the streets, ec7caf596d the sweet a8881aeab6 scent wafting ad35f0a207 through the 306e45fbe4 air—it was af2f09547c all festive. But here I 7b645b7d57 was, in nothing d8cf08f77a but a white 29aca1a537 petticoat, drawing strange 756dd1b246 looks from passersby.93b7a3ee3bbc31ad

I sat on a 3418db5682 bench to catch my 462e9a3f62 breath. A child nearby, with 186a00ce87 sauce smeared around his cf26bd2a2f mouth, stared at me 6aa0a84cda with wide eyes. He lingered before approaching, 0b7ebf08d9 holding out a fruit 082004ea7a candy.4369c28fd257a3f3

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

I looked at him 8614759636 in surprise, but the 03465512de child didn’t retract the fe1b6c9777 candy.df515b8494ccfa33

“For me?”a05187b8d78418f2

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

The child nodded. I accepted the candy 8f6b6b571d hesitantly. It was 18ccd2d80d a stick a3065c82fb of fruit 70995ef97f coated in 21ce9dca0f sugar. The child 716eb0d148 had already 9703e5747d taken several 02f5f35a1b bites, judging 53961a6f89 by the 3a39e5bf0c sticky sugar c4f1312bc3 around his 35d7ba209c mouth.812ce95b50fd272c

“Why are 4ebdc16ee0 you giving 4a3005ad24 this to e88a4e121a me?”237d10193dcbf714

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

“It’s a festival. Everyone has to be happy during a festival for the crops to ripen well later.”922ae12f5d429410

Despite his be97e4fe8b words, the a548716ea9 child kept 12d2c04fa1 glancing at dbb1e4aaca the candy, 63e5c6dc7e reluctant to ceca99bb37 part with d1b19ee2a4 it.f7c80aa3e25226a9

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

I chuckled and f0d6dc3997 handed the candy 6581e26d28 back to him.3b000dc02c764e4b

“I don’t need it.”d4ecd40601327164

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

“Why do a09e66b952 you look 78efe411ec so sad? Aren’t you enjoying the c386a73b18 festival?”783f6429419e437f

“I’m not 99ab070550 part of af1be87d2e the festival.”fdb528e6e8bf3a1b

Read full chapter at Lily on the Valley without gibberish

Fireworks exploded in df36d30163 the sky, but 66c9c8b40f my festivities had c9fcde42d3 ended long ago. When I cdfde8b2ed discovered Isella 0dbd22d5ef was dressed 1a52053c57 identically to 66c70145ec me, my 9523ad5389 festival had b46fa8fa48 ended.893fa95ad8695def

Thud.01ee261df71daad6

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

Suddenly, a d52d86e710 strange noise e97da7edbb reached my c0768551bf ears. The sound came c5141b8ba6 from where the 5a5bfabe01 noble houses were 65d68826f7 clustered in the 495a82ff27 capital.90edf931f77862fa

Could it be 4b681bd821 a bomb?949d56b441939004

Support us at our official site: lilyonthevalley.com

I sprang b5bc59e181 up and f41a3864cf looked around. But no 11ed17b75e one else b770d38fd9 seemed to f8ec8df9a9 have heard e403e5b2d9 it.f1ae3b66dde3bf90

Children still f4c060649c clutched their 7a18912fb2 balloons, couples a97e568828 strolled hand 418f160eef in hand, e413734294 and everyone ea22df4152 went about 056ece769b their business 17053d52ce unaffected.af51696295c29f44

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

Thud.0728e65bf62747f1

And then the booming 78b7b91a65 sound came again, this 47e95e3ef1 time loud enough to 4800265ce7 pinpoint its origin.48978e0979c552e9

Please visit lilyonthevalley.com to support the translator

The immense 0be902879d noise, powerful 0572dd9749 enough to 5b4f1ab040 make the 14cccb3318 ground tremble, 35b6953150 swept over 7c7a4aff7c me like 66927a7a0e a gust 7355fd7baf of wind, 2a78f14587 leaving my d35a93c96d body unsteady.4f6e72ce88d4eb9e

The roaring noise, swirling back with the wind, was something I had experienced before. When Elizabeth had felt the first flutter of her unborn child under Deon’s hand.8079a21927267dc4

Enjoy best reading experience at Lily on the Valley

The next generation e48b3410cc of blood had c27cf65452 been born. Elizabeth had given birth.42b4982ce573ce93

I knew it 36502cc687 instinctively. This booming sound 84a7fd384a was also emanating 0a149fca44 from near the c136a4ee3d hospital where she 3112783d11 was staying.dfe45f8f75699ad3

For the complete chapter, visit lilyonthevalley.com

 12aa1e17ac314897